Wicomico County, MD – County Executive Julie Giordano has officially vetoed Legislative Bill 2025-01, citing significant concerns about its impact on local kennel owners and the broader economic consequences for the county. The bill, as amended, would require that “the runs of a structure housing dogs be located no less than 1,000 feet from an existing residential dwelling on another parcel,” a provision that no current kennel can realistically comply with.
“This legislation, while well-intended, places an unrealistic and unfair burden on our county’s kennel owners,” said County Executive Julie Giordano. “If enforced, it would force long-standing businesses into noncompliance, potentially shutting them down or requiring costly and impractical relocations. That is not the kind of policy we should be implementing in Wicomico County.”
The veto was issued after hearing extensive concerns from kennel owners and community members, who argued that the bill fails to provide any grandfathering provisions for existing businesses and does not offer reasonable alternatives to achieve its intended goals.
Key reasons for the veto include:
- No existing kennel meets the new requirement, meaning every kennel would be out of compliance in three years.
- Financial and logistical hardships for small business owners, who may not have the resources to relocate.
- Economic consequences, including potential job losses and reduced access to pet care services for county residents.
- Lack of stakeholder input, as the amendment was passed without full engagement from affected business owners.
The County Executive is calling on the County Council to revisit the legislation and work with kennel owners, residents, and the planning and zoning department to develop a more balanced and fair approach that protects both business interests and community concerns.
“I urge the Council to reconsider this legislation and engage with all stakeholders before making a decision that could have such a devastating impact on our local businesses,” said Julie Giordano. “We can find a better solution—one that supports both responsible kennel operations and the needs of our residents.”
The vetoed bill will now return to the County Council. The next County Council meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM, where the matter is expected to be discussed further.
She said on the Earl Campbell /Eastern Shore Undercover Podcast that she wouldn’t be vetoing the bill until later 18-20th of February- and now she does it before tomorrow’s Council meeting where they plan to address it? She’ll do anything to try and look good
Queen Julie actually got one right for the people.
The council had this one wrong from the start – all existing operations should be allowed to continue – along the lines of Constitutional ex-post-facto!